Here is the all updated and now (hopefully) a even easier guide for those who may not know exactly how to use Bluetooth File Transfer

Before I start let me warn you guys that some features of Bluetooth File Transfer require root permissions so you may have to have root access to enable certain functions.

Allow me to explain quickly before getting into the guide – Root access will allow you to receive from any device (meaning your friend can connect to you and send you content) given you have root access and are running a ROM such as Cyanogen, Dwang, SuperE, OpenÉclair or any other ROM.

Without Root you can connect to any device and download/upload files and only devices like yours that are also using Bluetooth File Transfer can connect to you (for example G1 to G1) otherwise devices can’t connect to you

Please Note

Ensure the device is Bluetooth compatible and set to discoverable (refer to phone user manual of your friends device or contact their device provider with your friends device make and model for more info).

Furthermore some phones such as HTC Hero, Galaxy and Behold II may not be able to use this if they have software lower than 2.0 (Éclair) as the Bluetooth drivers are broken on those lower software levels.

Links

Developers Website: http://www.medieval.it/blueftp-android/menu-id-68.html

Support Forums: http://www.medieval.it/support/forum.html

Android Market (For users viewing this on a Android): http://market.android.com/search?q=pname:it.medieval.blueftp

Absolutely Android AppStore (For users viewing this on a PC): http://apps.absolutelyandroid.com/bluetoothfiletransfer-android-155497/app

Direct Download: http://www.medieval.it/sw/BlueFTP.apk

QR Codes

Developers Website
 

Support Forums

Android Market (For users viewing this on a Android)

Absolutely Android AppStore (For users viewing this on a PC)

Direct Download

Guide Updates

July 28th 2010

• Added links to support forums & direct download (See Above).
• Added 2 Extra QRCodes for the support forums & direct download (See Above).
• Major Addition: Added F.A.Q’s Section – F.A.Q’s.
• Changed contact email to admin@medieval.it 

April 30th 2010

• Added information about the Widget
• Added quick links in post (Thanks Artem & Gary) to use just click the name of the section you wish to go to out of the contents below these updates
• Added QR Codes
• Added Updates Section
• Updated link from AndroLib to our very own AppStore
• Small fixes, code clean ups & grammar fixes (Thanks to supporters pointing out the issues)
• Changed contact email to help@medieval.it

March 16th 2010

• HUGE update to make it easier to understand
• Added Contents
• Sorted by sections
• Explained search feature
• Added Links
• Much more that I can’t quite remember

January 27th 2010

• Guide created

Contents

1. Start Up – A Introduction to Bluetooth File Transfer.
2. Settings - Explanations of all the settings.
3. Search - Information on how to use the search function.
4. Widget – Information regarding the widget
5. Sending - Information on how to send files between devices.
6. Receiving - Information on receiving files between devices.
7. F.A.Q’s – Frequently Asked Questions.
8. Guide Complete - End of the guide. 

1. Start Up

Allow me to start with taking you through the start up procedure of Bluetooth File Transfer

You will find once opening Bluetooth File Transfer you may get around two pop-ups (this may be different depending on your use of Bluetooth File Transfer and your Bluetooth settings).

These pop-ups are

• Permissions to enable Bluetooth (if not already enabled)
• Application change log (shows once per update)

  If you want to send or receive files via Bluetooth you will need to click OK on enable Bluetooth or click cancel if you only want to use Bluetooth File Transfer as a stand-alone file manager.

Once you clicked that it will display a message saying enabling Bluetooth layer wait for this message to disappear.

the change log may then show, once you have read that click the button below the writing (as medieval update it every now and then it may not look exactly like the screenshot below).

Once Bluetooth is enabled and you have read the change log you will get one of two screens depending on if you have root access or not.

If you don’t have root permissions you will get the following message

If you have root permissions you won’t get that message above instead you will get two of these (depending on the ROM you are using it may not look exactly like the screenshot below)

These are call Su Permissions and will enable you to send and receive files and as I said above you will get a few of these.

I recommend clicking (or marking the tick) always allow to prevent having to do it on every start-up (don’t worry always allowing Bluetooth File Transfer root access won’t harm your device it will just save you enabling root access upon each start).

You have now completed the Start-Up process.

2. Settings

Now I suggest doing the settings for Bluetooth File Transfer don’t worry I will explain to you what the settings mean.

To access settings press menu and click more and select settings you will then see something like the following screenshot

Object Push Profile (OPP for short) is the settings for receiving files here is what the ones above mean.

• Enabled – Ticking this will enable Bluetooth on your device (should it not already be enabled) and it means it’s all set and ready to receive files.

• Start at boot – Ticking this means if you turn off your device when you switch it on again

• Stop when close – Ticking this means when you close Bluetooth File Transfer it will shut off receiving of files.

• Show notifications – Ticking this will display messages inside your notification bar to let you know when a file is received.

• Show messages – Ticking this will display "flying" messages (PopUps on your screen) to let you know when a file is received.

See next screenshot for more

• Alert on receive – This will display directly on the screen to let you know when a file is received.

• Destination folder – This is where you define where you want the received files to be saved to.

• Concurrent connections – This is where you choose how many devices can send you stuff at the same time (max 7)

I will discuss the rest after the next screenshot

File Transfer Profile (FTP for short) is the settings for sending files here is what the ones above mean.

• Enabled – Ticking this will enable Bluetooth on your device (should it not already be enabled) and it means it’s all set and ready to send files.

• Start at boot – Ticking this means if you turn off your device when you switch it on again the sending function of Bluetooth File Transfer will start automatically.

• Stop when close – Ticking this means when you close Bluetooth File Transfer it will shut off sending of files.

• Show notifications – Ticking this will display messages inside your notification bar to let you know when a file is sent.

• Show messages – Ticking this will display "flying" messages (PopUps on your screen) to let you know when a file is sent.

See next screenshot for more

• Alert on receive – Ticking this will mean it will display a alert on the screen to let you know when a file is received.

• Alert on send – Ticking this will mean it will display a alert on the screen to let you know when a file is sent.

• Shared folder – This is where you define where you want the files you wish to share to come from.

• Concurrent connections – This is where you choose how many devices you can send stuff to at the same time (max 7)

3. Search

The search function which will allow you to search your device for files or a device your connected to inside blueFTP

To access press menu then press find files and a pop up like below will appear

Here is the layout

Text Box – Use this to type in the name of the file you are after (it is case insensitive, so WINTER or winter or WINter is exactly the same).

TIP: Searching Absolutely Android will find all files containing the words Absolutely OR Android (so a file such as "Absolutely-Android-2009.jpg" will match, along with "Android vacation.3gp", "Absolutely Everybody.mp3" and "Wildfire camp – taken using my ANDROID in 2008.avi" and so on).

To narrow it down further you can put a + Between Absolutely Android and it will only return files with the words Absolutely AND Android both in one file name "(so a file such as Absolutely Awesome (Android Nexus).mpg" matches, along with "Absolutely cold night – see the snow (picture taken using my android).jpg" and "Absolutely Awesome.mp3", "Android Bluetooth File Transfer Guide.avi" or "Absolutely_air.exe" won’t show in the results).

Also putting a -between Absolutely Android will only return files with the file name Absolutely AND NOT Android (so a file such as "Absolutely Awesome Party.avi" matches, along with "Absolutely awesome site walkthrough.avi", "Absolutely awesome Bluetooth File Transfer guide.avi" and "Absolutely Everybody.avi", but "Absolutely Android Guide.avi" or "The Android Nexus One.jpg" doesn’t return in the results)

You can also combine these to shorten down results even more for example

- "summer + travel – 2008 – 2007" will "Search all files which name contains the word ‘summer’ **AND** the word ‘travel’ **BUT DOESN’T CONTAINS** the word ’2008′ and the word ’2007′".

- "fall summer winter + travel" means "Search all files which name contains the word ‘fall’ **OR** the word ‘summer’ **OR** the word ‘winter’ **AND** the word ‘travel’".

- also the short form like "-picture" is allowed and will "Search all files which name **DOESN’T CONTAINS** the word ‘picture’."

Finally, I was told in the next release users will have the ability to enclose one or more words into double quotes to make the match exactly like Google.

• File Type – Use this if your after a certain file type (for example ticking just audio and clicking OK will find all audio files of the text input in the text box)

• Size Greater Than – Use the slide bar to choose how large the certain file your looking for is (for example say your looking for a song that’s over 1000KBs so you will slide the bar to 1000KBs and press OK)

• Size Lower Than – Use the slide bar to choose how small the certain file your looking for is (for example say your looking for a song that’s under 1000KBs so you will slide the bar to 1000KBs and press OK)

• Date Newer Than – Use the date boxes to choose a date of to find certain item (for example your looking for a picture you know you got after the 1st of Jan 2010 so you put that in the boxes and it will search for all files from that date forward)

• Date Older Than – Use the date boxes to choose a date to find a certain item (for example your looking for a picture you know you got before the 1st of Jan 2010 so you put that in the boxes and it will search for all files from that date forward)

4. Widget

I will now go though quickly & explain the functions of the widget found in versions 2.70 & above

So first here is what the Widget looks like

It has four symbols which I will now explain to you one at a time, the first symbol (with the orange light underneath) is to active Bluetooth on your device (see screenshot below)

All you do is tap the Bluetooth Icon & it will turn orange (which means it is processing your request) & then blue once it is enabled (see screenshot below)

This is what you want to see on the Widget before sending & receiving items if one of the lights below the icon is not blue click it & enable it, this should result in a clean file transfer & file push (receive)

The second icon after the Bluetooth enable icon is to make your device visible & the next one seen in the screenshot below is to enable FTP (File Transfer)

This allows you to transfer files between devices so if you want to send ensure the light below the open folder icon is blue.

The last icon is the OPP (Object Push) which allows others with Bluetooth capable devices to connect with you & send you items.

If you want to receive a item from another device the lighting blot must have a blue light underneath it in order for the other device to find, connect & send you the item.

5. Sending

I will start by showing you what the contact sending looks like

all you do here is mark the contacts you wish to send and the following screen will show

This is where you either choose the device you want to send to or search for a new device (more info below).

I’m now going to explain how to send files by Bluetooth, this method works for any files you wish to send (but please ensure the device your sending to can handle the item your sending meaning don’t send a theme made for a Sony Ericsson to a Nokia and make sure the device your sending the item to has enough free memory).

Now once your gone through the checks above find the folder with the file/s you wish to send and click the box/es of the file/s you wish to send so it will look like this

Once you have selected the files press menu on your device and you will now get a screen that looks like this

Select more then select Send via Bluetooth (it will display how many items you wish to send for example 6 items)

now you should get a device selection screen which looks a little like this

It will automatically search for new devices in your area (normally only effective as far as an average sized bedroom so make sure the user is close when trying to connect)

If you can’t find your friends device make sure they have a Bluetooth capable device and that there Bluetooth is enabled on their device.

Also some devices need to be set to discoverable in order to be found so if that is the case please set to discoverable also before sending an item (refer to phone user manual of your friends device or contact their device provider with your friends device make and model for more info).

Please Note

Bluetooth File Transfer doesn’t give the device you’re sending to Bluetooth.

If you want to try finding the device your after upon going through the steps above then you can press menu and click search to re-search should the automated search not return any results, so once you click menu you should get something that looks like the following

Remember to click search and it will re-search for devices in your area.

Once you have located the device your after on your Android device long click it

You will get three options in a Pop-up box like this

This is what each option means

• Connect – Clicking this will connect you to the device you want to send the item to (if this is the first time sending to the device in question please use create pairing below).

• Add Bookmark – Clicking this will add the device your sending to, to your bookmarks (recommended if you plan on sending more items to the same device later)

• Create Pairing – This is the first step to take if the device your sending to is one you haven’t previously sent to

If you choose connect or add bookmark please ignore the following and see further below.

If you choose create pairing you will get a Pop-up that looks like the one seen below in the screenshot

Now you enter the password to which the other device your connected to will have to input (it can be any password you want I use 0000 as its easy to remember for the other user).

Once you have the password click OK.

Tell your friend using the other device you’re sending to the password and they should get a pop-up asking to input password.

This is where they enter the password you choose.

Once they done that you will get the following message on-screen

This is alerting you that the pairing has been successful and you are ready to send.

Now before sending (or if you selected add bookmark from above) if you think you will send the friend your currently sending items to some more items at a later date I recommend adding the user as a bookmark by long clicking on your friends phone on your device.

It should come up like this

Select add bookmark and this will save the device for future sharing.

For those who choose connect when i mentioned it in the above options start here

You may now connect to the device by long clicking your friends device on your screen until the following appears

Select Connect and this should now show something like the following screenshot

Wait till this completes and it should automatically start sending the files you marked above and the screen will look something like this

Wait for that to compete and if sending multiple files the screen above will display each file one at a time not all at once so wait for a message saying sending complete or something along those lines.

Congratulations you have now passed steps to sending files via Bluetooth File Transfer.

6. Receiving

So you want to receive a file from a friend.

Firstly make sure your device can handle the file your friend is sending you.

• Ensure you have enough free space on your device.
• Ensure the file is compatible with your device E.g a MP3 track and not a theme for a Sony Ericsson (it will not work on your device).
• Ensure they have a Bluetooth capable device and that there Bluetooth is enabled on their device (refer to phone user manual of your friends device or contact their device provider with your friend’s device make and model for more info).

Method One (Rooted Device)

This method is for those who have root or your friends device is the same as your device and your friend has Bluetooth File Transfer installed, (If you don’t have root and the device your friend is using doesn’t have Bluetooth File Transfer installed and isn’t the same as your device refer to method 2 below).

Unless already paired before with the device you want to receive a file from and you have root or the device you want to receive from is the same as your device and is using Bluetooth File Transfer your screen should look something like the following

Those who got that message must now enter a password that your friend will also need to know so they can input the exact same password you used

Once they have input the correct password you will get the following Pop-Up

This means you have received the file.

Method Two (Unrooted Device)

This method is for those who don’t have root and their friends device is not the same as your device or if you’re having issues with method one.

First step is open Bluetooth File Transfer and make sure both your Bluetooth and your friends Bluetooth is on and your friends device is set to discoverable.

Next using your device click remote inside Bluetooth File Transfer if you do it right you will see something like the following

Now use search and find the device you wish to grab the item/s from by finding the device on screen or clicking search so your screen should now look like this

Once located choose the device you want by clicking it once then the following will appear

Now locate the file/s you wish to send and mark the boxes of the files you want so it looks like the following

Press menu and select Download

Now you will get the following pop-up

Wait for this to fully complete (by fully complete i mean you may get more than one of these but just wait)

Once completed press menu then click more

now select Disconnect

Press OK and you will disconnect from the device you got the files from

This is all you need to do to receive a file.

7. F.A.Q’s

Q. Why doesn’t it work on my Android phone? (Hero / Galaxy / Spica / GW620)
A. Unfortunately, some Android smart-phones still can’t use Bluetooth functionality to transfer files. It happens mainly with Android 1.5 (Cupcake) and Android 1.6 (Donut). Please refer to medieval ’s compatibility table and check if your mobile phone is currently supported or not by our application.

NOTE – starting from Android 2.0 (or above), the Bluetooth layer will work correctly, even with the unsupported phones!!!

Q. Why can’t I receive files with Android 1.5 (Cupcake) or 1.6 (Donut)?
A. If your phone is Rooted, in other words you have gained root permissions with a hack and subsequently you have installed a customized firmware like CyanogenMod or SuperD, then you can receive files from any device (by accepting a "SU", aka SuperUser, dialog request).

Otherwise, without root permissions, you can receive files only from another "Bluetooth File Transfer (for Android)" software; so in this case only Android-to-Android transfers are supported. However, even without root, if you are able to connect to your target device (laptop, mobile phone, printer, car kit, and so on…) using our software, then you can download the files you want.

DOWNLOAD = receive files, UPLOAD = send files

Q. There’s a way to block the "300 seconds" discoverable request?
A. When the "300 seconds" discoverable dialog appear, just press [NO] button and it will not prompt you again, the next time.

Q. Why the Bluetooth communication sometimes becomes slow?
A. Almost all mobile phones enter into power saving state, or into stand-by state if you prefer this term, after a period of inactivity. When this happens, some mobile phones also put its Bluetooth chip in low-consumption state, making active transfers extremely slow and troublesome. Therefore, when you experience this problem, just recover both mobile phones (sender and receiver) from the power saving/stand-by state.

Q. Can I send music, videos and photos with this program?
A. Sure! First of all you have to locate the files you would like to send via Bluetooth, by using our powerful search engine: open main menu and click over the "Find files" button. Insert all the search parameters you desire and then press "Find" button. When the research is completed, put a check beside the files you want to send, then open main menu, press "More" button and finally click over the "Send via Bluetooth (## items)" button. Now just select the target device and the transfer starts … that’s all!

Q. Why can’t I print any photo with my PoGo printer?
A. To fix this problem you have to install and launch the FxCamera application, now go to "Config" menu of Polandroid and then choose Film Type – Rectangle (3:2). After doing this, you will be able to Bluetooth shooted pictures to your PoGo printer.

Q. Can I receive files without ROOT permissions?
A. Sure, if you are able to connect to your target device (laptop, mobile phone, printer, car kit, and so on…) using our software, then you can download the files you want.

DOWNLOAD = receive files

Q. Why can’t I connect to my BlackBerry device?
A. Unfortunately, BlackBerry devices don’t support Bluetooth receiving service natively, so you can’t receive files via Bluetooth unless you install a third-party application.

NOTE – Currently, we don’t have such application for BlackBerry!

Q. Does anyone know why when i turn on my Bluetooth, the app closes automatically…But if i turn off, I can access everything in the app like search file or go settings?
A. If the program crashes, then follow these steps:

1) Turn OFF Bluetooth on your phone then start the program;
2) When BlueFTP requests to turn on Bluetooth, just press CANCEL
button, to maintain the Bluetooth in OFF state;
3) Open menu, press "Settings…" and then uncheck all the checkboxes
labeled as "Enabled", in order to disable the file receiving services
that cause crash, then press BACK key;
4) Now turn ON Bluetooth on your phone, either by using Android
settings or by clicking over "Turn on Bluetooth" button in "Remote
files" page (right-side) of BlueFTP – wait a bit;
5) You can now use the program.

Q. Why can’t I find this application on the market?
A. If your on 1.5/1.6 this application may not be available to you due to issues Medieval are having with the Android market, you can find out all the information here – http://www.medieval.it/google-is-censoring-bluetooth-on-android-the-proof/menu-id-66.html & if your using 1.5/1.6 & you can’t see the application on the market you can always download it directly from here – http://www.medieval.it/sw/BlueFTP.apk but please take the time to check out that article over at Medieval if you haven’t already.

Q. Can I see what’s been worked on for upcoming releases or check to see if a issue I am having is being fixed?
A. Yes you can & you can do that by going here – http://bugs.medieval.it/my_view_page.php.

Q. What if the issue I am having isn’t listed there?
A. If its not listed there you can contact the support team by emailing admin@medieval.it, leaving comments on the market with 1 star ratings saying something is broken may not get seen as the market comments are not checked on a daily basis & Medieval gets tons of market comments everyday so they may miss it so please use the email if you have issues & if possible have a logcat available to attach to the email to help Medieval fix the issues faster & easier.

Q. I have a general question on how to use this application that you haven’t answered?
A. I may of missed a question but please feel free to leave a comment with your question here below & I will try my best to help but remember don’t tell me about the bugs as I don’t have the power to fix them & only contact via email will help you with bugs such as trouble connecting to a PC & application forcecloses on a certain feature such as accessing options but I am open to all questions about this guide & the application in general.

8. Guide Complete

This concludes the beginners guide to Bluetooth File Transfer.

Please give the developers a break and read this fully before e-mailing them with issues as it may not be Bluetooth File Transfer’s fault.

Should you have an issue that hasn’t been covered in this guide please email admin@medieval.it

Furthermore if this guide helps you please leave us a nice comment below we love reading all the great comments and it shows all our time hasn’t been wasted.